Circus


 * In this alternate timeline, over 200 people died in the Hartford Circus Fire as opposed to 167. For the remainder of the season, circus performs in stadiums.
 * These performances had less attendance because of the negative publicity the circus was receiving.
 * After the 1944 season ends, hundreds of employees are laid off after Robert Ringling announced the decision that the circus would only perform in indoor venues in major cities.
 * The 1945 season earned less profit compared to previous seasons and almost caused the circus to close permanently.
 * Robert Ringling decides to move the circus to a permanent venue in New York City.
 * The 1946 season was the first time the circus performed at Loew’s State Theatre in Times Square, which was its new home.
 * This was supposed to help the circus financially. As a result, more employees are laid off and many quit their jobs.
 * Despite the decision being quite controversial at the time, the theatre benefitted from this as they had the chance to book more talent for their four-a-day bills. By the end of the 1947 season, the theatre had paid off most of its debt.
 * At the end of the 1946 season, Robert Ringling resigns as president and John Ringling North is reinstated as president after being persuaded by higher-ups.
 * North inherits huge debt (others include labor disputes),
 * December 23, 1947 - The theatre announces that they will continue their four-a-day bill.
 * The next few seasons see the circus being the theatre’s most profitable act.
 * Just before the beginning of the 1950 season, John Ringling North offers to buy the theatre, which is renamed to The Ringling Theatre. Non-circus acts (e.g. comedian Jack Carter) were billed under the “Ringling Bros. Presents” heading.
 * In 1951, The Howdy Doody Show does a sweepstakes where a child and their family go on a trip to the Ringling Theatre for free and meet the casts of both Howdy Doody and the circus.
 * A film about the circus is released in 1952.